Third award in five years; 2017 award for master planning at Club de Golf de Panama
HOLLAND, Mich. – Raymond Hearn Golf Course Design’s master planning at the historic Club de Golf de Panama (Panama City, Panama) has been recognized by The American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) with a 2017 Design Excellence Recognition Award.
It is the third ASGCA Design Excellence Award won by Hearn’s Holland, Mich.-based firm in the last five years.
“We could not be prouder of our master planning work for the golf course at this very distinguished Golf Club which is regarded as one of the top-ranked golf clubs in Panama,” Hearn said. “Our goal was to provide the Club with a “road map” into the future in terms of improvements. As with any of my master planning assignment, we focused on making the golf course more strategic and playable for all levels of golfing ability.”
In addition, Hearn’s firm recommended sand capping heavy clay fairways and adding more drainage, so the course could be playable during their wet season. Hearn worked with the club’s project engineer (Juan Heras) on the drainage.
“Improved strategy, shot value and playability are a big part of any of our remodel master planning projects,” Hearn said. “To help attract more families to the Club, we also designed significant master planning improvements for the practice area and nine-hole par 3 course.”
Club de Golf de Panama dates to 1922 and an original 9-hole course built by those associated with the construction of the Panama Canal, but the current 18-hole course dates to the 1960s.
“Ray’s master planning gave our club valuable ideas and a direction into the future with respect to our golf course,” Club President Carlos Sacre said. “This was important for all golfers that enjoy our course and its future. We are proud to host the Web.com Tour every year and watch some of world’s up and coming professional golfers play our course. We also are proud to have hosted the 2017 Latin American Amateur Championship (LAAC) which awards a spot for an amateur from Latin America to play in The Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. The spot for the actual Masters Tournament was won by Toto Gana from Chile. It’s a very big deal. Only Pilar Golf in Argentina in 2015 and Casa de Campo in 2016 have hosted the tournament before us.”
Hearn said the golf course should be on the must-play list of serious golfers.
“The course’s layout, strategic component and beauty are truly a special experience,” he said.
For additional information, plans, photos, etc., contact: Raymond Hearn, president Raymond Hearn Golf Course Designs, Inc., at ray@rhgd.com or 616-399-7686 or Greg Johnson Media at greggie24@hotmail.com or 616-560-8995. Learn more at www.rhgd.com
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